Thumb hole structure for bowling balls



R. G. LERRO ET AL THUMB HOLE STRUCTURE FOR BOWLING BALLS June 15, 1954 Filed Oct. 16. 1951 WNTORS Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLE sri tfiz finron nownmo Romeo GaLerro and J osephV. Urbano, N ewark, N. J.

Application October-l6, 1951; Serial No. 251,612

(on. msss) 3 Claims.

Thisinven'tion relates to improvements in bowling balls, and has reference, more particularlwto improvements inthemeans by which the ball is 'gripped when delivering the same upon a bowling alley in play.

Inthe common type of bowling ball, the grip thereof comprises a thumb hole and one *ormore fingerholes, all of which enter the body 'of the ball, and which 1 are relatively spaced to receive the-thumb and fingerbrfingers of the hand by Whichthe ball is manipulated.

Most bowlersbeek-to-impart a twist or" spin to the ball at the moment of deliveryof thesame onto the alley. In'so'd'o'ing useis made of the thumbas the pivot on center about which the leverage of thefingers'in impartinga twist to theball, is exerted, 'whereby" to initiate spinning movement of the ballto accompany its rolling progress down the alley, thus inducing the "ball to follow a curvingtrajectory. Suchmanipulation of the ball not only puts considerable strain upon the thumb, butcauses a twisting of the thumb "in the thumb hole, "and consequent strong frictional rubbingof the thumb againstthe wall By reason'ofthis;

surface of the thumb hole. the bowler s thumb frequently becomes irritate'd andsore, with risk'of development of blisters and painful callouses': all of which interfereswith and frequently prevents desired control of the ball when delivering the same onto thealley. In" additiontothis, the twisting of thethumb in the thumbholeislikelyto cause such spreading or distortion of the thumb as to result in jamming and sticking of the samewithinthe thumb hole atthemoment-of ball delivery, sothat frictional resistance to release of the ball from'thehand occurs, which interferes with timing,' speed and directional accuracy of ball delivery.

Having the above objectionable effects in view, it isthe primary object of this invention to-provide a thumb hole structure for a bowling ball, which avoids said effects; and, to this end, to provide theball with'a'freely rotatable element imbedded therein which the thumb hole is formed. The thumb hole element being freely Similar characters of reference are employed in the aforesaid views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the body of thebo'wlingball 'is indicated by the reference character l0. Entering the ball body In are'finger holes I l, and in suitablyspaced relation thereto is positioned a freely rotatable thumb hole element.

The ball body is provided with a radial bore or socket 12 which terminates at its outer end in a diametrically enlarged annular seat l3 outwardly openat the surface of the ball body. Housed in the bore or socket I2, so as to be, rotatable therein about its longitudinal axis, is a cylindrical rotatable element I 4. Said element I4 is provided at its outer end portion preferably as anintegral part thereof, with an external annular flange or head [5, which lies within theoutwardlyopen portionof the annularseat l3, andis diametrically sized to loosely fit within the embrace of the side Walls of the latter. The outer end surface of the element l l together with the outer'face of the flange or head 15 are convexly curved to fiushly conform to the surface curvature of the ball body In. Extending longitudihallyinto the element M is a thumb receiving hole IS.

The flange or head iii of the element I4 is of lessthicknessftl'ian the depth of the annularsealt lathus providing'an' annular chamber intermediate the underside of saidfiange orhead l5 and the bottom of the annular seat It for the reception of an anti-friction hearing by which the element I4 is supported for unimpeded rotation 'about its longitudinal axis.

bearings l9 engaged in and s between the race grooves or channels with which the opposed inner faces of the race members are provided. The outer race member I1 is seated within the annular seat I3 in forced fit and therefore fixed engagement with the side walls of the latter, whereby to be secured to and unitary with the ball body 10. The inner race member 18 is engaged around the element 14 beneath its flange or head E5 in forced fit and therefore fixed engagement therewith, whereby to be secured thereto so as to be unitary therewith. The outer race member being unitary with the ball body and the inner race member being unitary with the element I4, the

Having now described our invention, we claim:

1. In a bowling ball, a thumb hole structure imbedded radially therein in spaced span determining relation to the finger hole grip portion of the ball, said structure comprising a rotatable cylindrical element provided with a thumb receiving opening extending axially thereinto, and a ball-bearing comprising an outer race member immovably affixed to the ball body, an inner race member immovabl'y affixed to the rotatable element and an annular row of anti-friction balls intermediate said race members to support said annular row of ball bearings 19 engaged in and between the race member grooves or channels not only assure free, unlimited and unimpeded rotative movement of the element [4 in swiveling relation to the ball body H], but also act as keys between the ball body and said element adapted to secure the latter within the former against outward axial displacement from its operative assembled relation thereto. It will be noted that the ball bearing is thus located relative to the outer end portion of the element It where, in the use of the ball, maximum thrusting pressure of. the bowlers'thumb is exerted. By reason of this, tendency of the element I4 to cant in the socket 12, with risk of frictionally impeding its free rotation is avoided.

From the above it will be obvious that the thumb hole element M is capable of free, unlimited and unimpeded rotation in swiveling relation to the ball body, and consequently, when engaged by the inserted thumb of the bowlers ball manipulating hand, will follow any turning movement of the thumb resulting from manipulation of the ball for delivery thereof onto the alley. Since the thumb hole element thus freely rotates in response to thumb movement, all frictional rubbing of the thumb against the wall surface of the thumb hole 16 is prevented, and twisting or distortion of the thumb by contact with an immovable thumb hole surface, with risk of jamming or sticking of the thumb in the thumb hole, is likewise avoided. It will, therefore, be understood that the blowlers thumb lies normally straight and free within the thumb hole throughout all phases of the delivery manipulation of the ball by the bowler, and, as the ball leaves the hand upon delivery, the thumb will quickly withdraw from the thumb hole without frictional resistance to such Withdrawing movement. Due to these advantages, the bowler will maintain desired control of the ball during all phases of delivery manipulation thereof, so that accurate delivery placement, with induced spin if desired,v is better attained, and this without risk of irritation of the thumb likely to result in soreness or formationof blisters'or callouses.

Some bowlers prefer to have the thumb hole of the ball somewhat oblique to the radius of the ball body. In such case, as shown in'Fig. 3, the freely rotatable thumb hole element [4 according to'this invention may be modified to provide a thumb hole oblique to its longitudinal axis at a selected angular degree. To this end, the rotatable element [4 is provided with a longitudinal bore 26 for the reception of an adapter piece 21 in which is formed a thumb hole 22 of selected oblique angularity. Said adapter piece 2| is engaged in the bore 20 of element 14 with a press or. force fit so as to be thus secured in unitary relation thereto, whereby to turn therewith. In other respects the modified construction of Fig. 3 is the same as that of the previously described construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

' from operative assembled relation to said ball body.

2. A bowling ball having a socket extending radially into its body from the surface thereof,

said socket terminating at'its outer end in an outwardly open diametrically enlarged annular seat portion, said socket being located inspaced span determining relation to the finger hole grip portion of the ball, a thumb hole structure mounted in said socket, said thumb hole structure comprising a rotatable cylindrical element provided with a thumb receiving opening extending axially thereinto, said element having an external annular head flange disposed within the outer open end of said annular seat portion of the socket fiush with the surface of the ball body, and an anti-friction bearing housed within said annular seat portion of the socket beneath the head flange of said element, whereby to support said element for unlimited and unimpeded free rotation about its longitudinal axis and thus in swivelling relation to the ball body.

3. A bowling ball having a socket extending radially into its body from the surface thereof, said socket terminating at its outer end in an outwardly open diametrically enlarged annular seat portion, said socket being located in spaced span determining relation to the finger hole grip portion of the ball, a thumb hole structure mounted in said socket, said thumb hole structure comprising a rotatable cylindrical element provided with a thumb receiving opening extending axially thereinto, said element having an external annular head flange disposed within tion balls intermediate said race members to support said element for unlimited and unimpeded free rotation about its longitudinal axis and thus in swivelling relation to saidball body and to secure said element against axial displacement from operative assembled relation to said ball body. a

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,111,022 Hyatt Sept. 22, 191 1,217,940 Hill Mar. 6, 1917 2,393,026 Dietz et a1 Jan. 15, 1946 2,460,385 Hausman Feb. 1, 1949. 

